Meet the team: Ben Chapman
Fresh to Fusion from France, where he worked for premium bike brand LOOK, we get the low-down on Ben Chapman’s passion for travel and salute his work philosophy of “Get Stuff Done.”
How did you end up here?
I started riding with a local club - Team Milton Keynes - when I was on stabilisers, my brother got into cycling and I followed along! I reached a relatively good standard, I was on the British Cycling Talent Team and raced nationally and internationally on road, cyclo-cross and track but stopped racing when I was 19.
Whilst I was racing I was working part time in my local bike shop as a mechanic. After I gave up racing I went and worked in New Zealand in another bike shop. I did a bit of mountain biking while I was there, traveled around and tried some surfing.
I taught English as a foreign language in France for a year, then came back and worked for distributor Madison in the UK. I also began studying a combined marketing and French degree with the Open University. I moved to France to improve my French, teaching English again, this time in Grenoble. I missed cycling and thought why not work in bikes here in France and landed a job at LOOK as an event assistant. I wanted to return to the UK to be closer to family and Fusion looked like the perfect opportunity.
Why Fusion Media?
The broad range of clients and the company’s advocacy work for active travel is what attracted me. Having gained a wealth of experience working for brands, distributors, retailers, and professional teams within cycling, I really wanted to gain further experience in a PR role, working with a range of different clients and getting more people moving. I am really looking forward to working within a varied team where everyone contributes to the overall success of the business. Continuing to work with people from all over the world is also very exciting and it is something I enjoy very much.
What aspects of PR excite you the most?
For me, working with a host of interesting people, creating lasting relationships, and making things happen is what excites me. Having dabbled in several areas of the bike industry in the UK, New Zealand, and more recently France, I plan on bringing my technical knowledge, event experience, as well as my French language skills to the team.
Any trends in cycling you think will dominate in the coming year? What should we be watching out for?
One thing is certain, 2024 is going to be a very interesting year for the bike industry. I think E-Bikes will continue to play a big part in how the industry develops, especially E-Cargo bikes, and I hope to see more people using them around town. The thing to watch out for will be how brands adapt and diversify during these somewhat challenging times for the industry.
What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
Get stuff done! I think there is a lot to be said for going through the processes and achieving a goal, and then going back to the drawing board in order to make improvements.
How do you like to unwind outside of work?
I have been a cyclist nearly my whole life so tinkering with my bikes and going for a cafe ride at the weekend is almost second nature. Other hobbies and interests include languages, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Finally, if you could have a coffee chat with anyone in the industry, who would it be and why?
Probably someone like Gary Fisher… I think he would have a good few stories to tell about the early days of mountain biking.